As is often the case with the insatiable machine that is the internet – and more precisely in this case, social media – a new dawn almost always sees a new trend take the various platforms by storm. For a few weeks now, people have been uploading photos of them into the Lensa AI app and sharing the ‘magical avatars’ it creates using this imagery. In fact, there have been days where it has seemed you can't scroll on Instagram without seeing the animated faces of your friends, family and strangers pop up.
However, this latest trend hasn't come without controversy, as the app, which allows people of any age to create an account and upload their photos, has been accused of “sexualising” imagery - perhaps most notably by Megan Fox - and perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards, showing users with chiselled bodies, airbrushed skin and ample breasts.
But this article is in fact not about Lensa AI, instead, it is about an altogether more wholesome campaign that has launched - one that, on the contrary, intends to demonstrate how AI can actually be used to showcase the beauty of diversity in the modern world by showing the world's most iconic Renaissance artworks reimagined with a cast of diverse influencers.
The powerful campaign, launched by inclusive razor brand, Estrid, has come following research from Estrid found a huge 61% of individuals have experienced prejudice or exclusion as a result of their identity – citing body shape and outward appearance as primary reasons for experiencing these feelings - and evidencing the demand for further visibility on a greater scale.
The visual project aims to not only confront the stark omission of body hair throughout these works of art, but also to approach the lack of diversity we see in them. While rightly lauded as some of the most influential works in the world of art history, the campaign enlisted the help of modern-day visionaries to update the images - with a view to create a more tolerant view of body diversities in art and mainstream culture.
The Human Renaissance project forms part of Estrid’s work to redefine beauty norms, champion marginalised communities and inspire others to do the same. Research from the ethical self-care brand has highlighted that 84% of people think that the beauty industry is unnecessarily binary and exclusive, adding to anxiety and loneliness already faced by minority individuals - with those most affected including genderfluid (80%) and non-binary individuals (70%).
"Renaissance artwork is heralded for its beauty, yet the beauty it celebrated was kept within very strict confines. In reality, we know beauty comes in many amazing, beautiful and perfect forms. By working with a range of trailblazing visionaries, the Renaissance paintings have been recreated to display humans in their most beautiful and natural form," Caroline Borelius, Director of Brand Marketing at Estrid, says. “We hope to show that all bodies are beautiful, and deserve to be centre stage in art. Human Renaissance marks a next step in our ongoing journey to combat outdated beauty norms and provide individuals with role models with whom they can authentically identify with.”
The images - and the intent behind them - also serve as an important reminder of how we have a duty to think about how we use our social media, the content we engage with and the voices, and images, we amplify. We know which side of history we'd rather be on - quite literally.
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